Research
1. Development of automated methods for tracking cell shapes, quantification of the fluorescence intensity of tagged proteins and the development of cell behaviour metrics and analyses.
2. Drosophila germ-band extension and zebrafish trunk ectoderm as models for understanding the integration of cell intrinsic and extrinsic forces during animal morphogenesis.
3. Actomyosin & cell shape fluctuations and their role in epithelial contractility. Using myosin motor fluorescence intensity as a proxy for force & inferring epithelial material properties.
4. Quantitative aspects of the dynamics of various other model systems: Early zebrafish forebrain morphogenesis; early development of the Drosophila salivary gland; mouse gastrulation.
Recent or in press papers
Blanchard GB†*, Scarpa E†, Muresan L & Sanson B*. (2023) Mechanical stress combines with planar polarised patterning during metaphase to orient embryonic epithelial cell divisions. bioRxiv, https://doi.org/10.1101/2023.07.12.548728.
Lye CM, Blanchard GB, Evans J, Nestor-Bergmann A & Sanson B. (2023) Drosophila axis extension is robust to an orthogonal pull by invaginating mesoderm. bioRxiv, https://doi.org/10.1101/2023.07.18.549479.
Nestor-Bergmann A, Blanchard GB, Hervieux N , Fletcher AG, Étienne J & Sanson B. (2022) Adhesion-regulated junction slippage controls cell intercalation dynamics in an Apposed-Cortex Adhesion Model. PLoS Comp. Biol. Doi: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1009812.
Article
Sharrock TE, Blanchard GB, Evans J & Sanson B. (2022) Different temporal requirements for the LRR transmembrane receptors Tartan and Toll-2 in the formation of contractile interfaces at compartmental boundaries. Development, 49(21). Doi: 10.1242/dev.200292.
Article
Fierling J, John A, Delorme B, Torzynski A, Blanchard GB, Lye CM, Malandain G, Sanson B, Étienne J, Marmottant P, Quilliet C & Rauzi M. (2022) Embryo-scale epithelial buckling forms a propagating furrow that initiates gastrulation. Nature Communications, 13(3348). Doi: 10.1038/s41467-022-30493-3.
Article
Sanchez-Corrales YE, Blanchard GB & Röper K. (2021) Correct regionalisation of a tissue primordium is essential for coordinated morphogenesis. eLife. Doi: 10.7554/eLife.72369.
Article
Moreno L, et al. (2020) Accelerating drug development for neuroblastoma: Summary of the Second Neuroblastoma Drug Development Strategy forum from Innovative Therapies for Children with Cancer and International Society of Paediatric Oncology Europe Neuroblastoma. European Journal of Cancer, 136:52-68. Doi: 10.1016/j.ejca.2020.05.010.
Article pdf
Strawbridge SE, Blanchard GB, Smith A, Kugler H & Martello G (2020) Embryonic stem cells commit to differentiation by symmetric divisions following a variable lag period. bioRxiv. Doi: 10.1101/2020.06.17.157578.
Article
Finegan TM*, Hervieux N*, Nestor-Bergmann A, Fletcher AG, Blanchard GB & Sanson B (2019) The tricellular vertex-specific adhesion molecule Sidekick facilitates polarised cell intercalation during Drosophila axis extension. PLoS Biology, 17(12): e3000522. Doi: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3000522.
Article pdf
*Blanchard GB, *Fletcher AG & *Schumacher LJ. (2019) The devil is in the mesoscale: mechanical and behavioural heterogeneity in collective cell movement. Seminars in Cell & Developmental Biology, 93:46-54. Doi: 10.1016/j.semcdb.2018.06.003.
Article
Sanchez-Corrales YE, *Blanchard GB & *Röper K. (2018) Radially-patterned cell behaviours during tube budding from an epithelium. eLife, 7:e35717, Doi: 10.7554/eLife.35717.
Article CoB preLight
Blanchard GB. (2018) A 3D cell shape found in sheets and tubes. Nature, 561:182-3. Doi: 10.1038/d41586-018-06162-1.
Article pdf
Collaborators
Bénédicte Sanson, Claire Lye, Alex Nestor-Bergmann & Tom Sharrock, PDN, Cambridge
Elena Scarpa, PDN, Cambridge
Jocelyn Etienne, Laboratoire Interdisciplinaire de Physique (LIPHY), Grenoble
Alex Fletcher, Maths & Stats, Sheffield (Chaste modelling platform)
Katja Röper & Yara Sanchez-Corrales, MRC/LMB, Cambridge
Nicole Gorfinkiel, Dept. Genetics, Physiology & Microbiology, Complutense University of Madrid (UCM)
Alexandre Kabla, Engineering, Cambridge
Richard Adams, PDN, Cambridge
Publications
[†first equal, *co-corresponding]
A: Automated cell tracking and strain rate mapping
Blanchard GB (2017) Taking the strain: quantifying the contributions of all cell behaviours to changes in epithelial shape. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B. 372: 20150513, Doi: 10.1098/rstb.2015.0513.
Article pdf Cover picture
Blanchard GB & Adams RJ (2011) Measuring the multi-scale integration of mechanical forces during morphogenesis. Current Opinion in Genes & Development, 21:653-663.
Pubmed pdf
Kabla AJ, Blanchard GB, Adams RJ & Mahadevan L (2010) Bridging cell and tissue behaviour in embryo development, In ‘Cell Mechanics: From Single Scale-Based Models to Multiscale Modelling’ Eds. Chauvière A, Preziosi L & Verdier C, Chapman & Hall.
Blanchard GB, Kabla AJ, Schultz NL, Butler LC,Sanson B, Gorfinkiel N, Mahadevan L & Adams RJ (2009) Tissue tectonics: morphogenetic strain rates, cell shape change and intercalation. Nature Methods, 6:458-464.
Pubmed pdf Supplementary
B: Cell division
Blanchard GB†*, Scarpa E†, Muresan L & Sanson B*. (2023) Mechanical stress combines with planar polarised patterning during metaphase to orient embryonic epithelial cell divisions. bioRxiv, https://doi.org/10.1101/2023.07.12.548728.
Scarpa E, Finet C, Blanchard GB & Sanson B. (2018) Actomyosin-driven tension at compartmental boundaries orients cell division independently of cell geometry in vivo. Developmental Cell, 47(6):727-740. Doi: 10.1016/j.devcel.2018.10.029.
Article
C: Convergence and extension: intrinsic & extrinsic mechanisms
Lye CM, Blanchard GB, Evans J, Nestor-Bergmann A & Sanson B. (2023) Drosophila axis extension is robust to an orthogonal pull by invaginating mesoderm. bioRxiv, https://doi.org/10.1101/2023.07.18.549479.
Nestor-Bergmann A, Blanchard GB, Hervieux N , Fletcher AG, Étienne J & Sanson B. (2022) Adhesion-regulated junction slippage controls cell intercalation dynamics in an Apposed-Cortex Adhesion Model. PLoS Comp. Biol. Doi: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1009812.
Article
Sharrock TE, Blanchard GB, Evans J & Sanson B. (2022) Different temporal requirements for the LRR transmembrane receptors Tartan and Toll-2 in the formation of contractile interfaces at compartmental boundaries. Development, 49(21). Doi: 10.1242/dev.200292.
Article pdf
Finegan TM*, Hervieux N*, Nestor-Bergmann A, Fletcher AG, Blanchard GB & Sanson B (2019) The tricellular vertex-specific adhesion molecule Sidekick facilitates polarised cell intercalation during Drosophila axis extension. PLoS Biology, 17(12): e3000522. Doi: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3000522.
Article pdf
Dicko M, Saramito P, Blanchard GB, Lye CM, Sanson B & Étienne J. (2017) Geometry can provide long-range mechanical guidance for embryogenesis. PLoS Computational Biology, 13(3): e1005443. Doi:10.1371/journal.pcbi.1005443.
Article
†Tetley R, *†Blanchard GB, Fletcher AJ, Adams RJ & *Sanson B. (2016) Cell rearrangements at Myosin II-enriched boundaries drive Drosophila axis extension. eLife, 5: e12094.
Pubmed Article
Lye CM, Blanchard GB, Huisken J, Adams RJ & Sanson BS. (2015) Mechanical coupling between invagination movements and axis extension in Drosophila. PLOS Biology, 13(11): e1002292.
Pubmed pdf
†Butler LC, †Blanchard GB, Kabla AJ, Lawrence NJ, Welchman DP, Mahadevan L, Adams RJ & Sanson B (2009) Cell shape changes indicate a role for extrinsic tensile forces in Drosophila germband extension. Nature Cell Biology, 11:859-864.
Pubmed pdf Supplementary
D: Actomyosin fluctuations, epithelial contractility and modeling forces
Fierling J, John A, Delorme B, Torzynski A, Blanchard GB, Lye CM, Malandain G, Sanson B, Étienne J, Marmottant P, Quilliet C & Rauzi M. (2022) Embryo-scale epithelial buckling forms a propagating furrow that initiates gastrulation. Nature Communications, 13(3348). Doi: 10.1038/s41467-022-30493-3.
Article
*Blanchard GB, *Fletcher AG & *Schumacher LJ. (2019) The devil is in the mesoscale: mechanical and behavioural heterogeneity in collective cell movement. Seminars in Cell & Developmental Biology, 93:46-54. Doi: 10.1016/j.semcdb.2018.06.003.
Article
*Blanchard GB, *Etienne J & *Gorfinkiel N. (2018) From pulsatile apicomedial contractility to effective epithelial mechanics. Current Opinion in Genetics & Development, 51:78-87. Doi: 10.1016/j.gde.2018.07.004.
Article pdf
Machado PF, Duque J, Etienne J, Arias AM, *Blanchard GB & *Gorfinkiel N. (2015) Active rheology and emergent material properties of developing epithelial tissues. BMC Biology, 13:98.
Pubmed pdf
Machado PF, Blanchard GB, Duque J & Gorfinkiel N (2014) Cytoskeletal turnover and Myosin contractility drive cell autonomous oscillations in a model of Drosophila Dorsal Closure. European Physical Journal-Special Topics, 223:1391-1402.
Article pdf
Fischer SC, Blanchard GB, Duque J, Adams RJ, Arias AM, Guest SD & Gorfinkiel N (2014) Contractile and mechanical properties of epithelia with perturbed actomyosin dynamics. PLoS One, 9:e95695.
Pubmed pdf
*Gorfinkiel N & *Blanchard GB (2011) Dynamics of actomyosin contractile activity during epithelial morphogenesis. Current Opinion in Cell Biology, 23:531-539.
Pubmed pdf
Gorfinkiel N, Schamberg S & Blanchard GB (2011) Integrative approaches to morphogenesis: lessons from Dorsal Closure. Genesis, 49:522-533.
Pubmed pdf
*Blanchard GB, Murugesu S, Adams RJ, Martinez-Arias A & *Gorfinkiel N (2010) Cytoskeletal dynamics and supra-cellular organization of cell shape fluctuations during dorsal closure. Development, 137:2743-2752.
Pubmed pdf Supplementary
Gorfinkiel N, Blanchard GB, Adams RJ & Arias AM (2009) Mechanical control of global cell behaviour during Dorsal Closure in Drosophila. Development, 136:1889-1898.
Pubmed pdf Supplementary
E: Tube formation in the Drosophila salivary placode
Sanchez-Corrales YE, Blanchard GB & Röper K. (2021) Correct regionalisation of a tissue primordium is essential for coordinated morphogenesis. eLife. Doi: 10.7554/eLife.72369.
Article
Blanchard GB. (2018) A 3D cell shape found in sheets and tubes. Nature, 561, 182-3. Doi: 10.1038/d41586-018-06162-1.
Article pdf
Sanchez-Corrales YE, *Blanchard GB & *Röper K. (2018) Radially-patterned cell behaviours during tube budding from an epithelium. eLife, 7:e35717, Doi: 10.7554/eLife.35717.
Article CoB preLight
Booth AJ, Blanchard GB, Adams RJ & Roper K (2014) A Dynamic Microtubule Cytoskeleton Directs Medial Actomyosin Function during Tube Formation. Developmental Cell, 29:562-76.
Pubmed pdf
F: Early zebrafish forebrain morphogenesis
Young S, Jennings JN, Blanchard GB, Kabla AJ & Adams RJ (2015) Tissue dynamics of the forebrain neural plate. BioRxiv.
Article
England SJ, Blanchard GB, Mahadevan L & Adams RJ (2006) A dynamic fate map of the forebrain shows how vertebrate eyes form and explains two causes of cyclopia. Development, 133:4613-4617.
Pubmed pdf Supplementary
G: Stem cell differentiation
Strawbridge SE, Blanchard GB, Smith A, Kugler H & Martello G (2020) Embryonic stem cells commit to differentiation by symmetric divisions following a variable lag period. bioRxiv. Doi: 10.1101/2020.06.17.157578.
Article
H: Neuroblastoma
Moreno L, et al. (2020) Accelerating drug development for neuroblastoma: Summary of the Second Neuroblastoma Drug Development Strategy forum from Innovative Therapies for Children with Cancer and International Society of Paediatric Oncology Europe Neuroblastoma. European Journal of Cancer, 136:52-68. Doi: 10.1016/j.ejca.2020.05.010.
Article pdf
Bell E, Chen L, Viprey VF & Blanchard GB (2014) Meeting report: 3rd Neuroblastoma Research Symposium, Liverpool, 6-7th November, 2013. Pediatric Blood & Cancer, 61:1711–1713.
Pubmed pdf
I: Collective behaviour of ant colonies
Sumpter DJT, Blanchard GB & Broomhead DS (2001) Ants and agents: A process algebra approach to modelling ant colony behaviour. Bulletin of Mathematical Biology, 63:951-980.
Pubmed pdf
Cox M & Blanchard GB (2000) Gaseous templates in ant nests. Journal of Theoretical Biology, 204:223-238.
Pubmed pdf
Blanchard GB, Orledge GM, Reynolds SE & Franks NR (2000) Division of labour and seasonality in the ant Leptothorax albipennis: worker corpulence and its influence on behaviour. Animal Behaviour, 59:723-738.
Pubmed pdf
Blanchard GB. Ants Through the Looking Glass. PhD thesis, University of Bath.
